What you should know about your thyroid health—and the signs to look out for

Hypothyroidism resembles many other conditions and develops slowly, and many Canadians could have it without even knowing

What is hypothyroidism?

What happens if your thyroid isn’t working well? One of the conditions that can develop is called hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. If your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones, the pituitary gland can respond by releasing higher amounts of a hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH^¹.

It’s thought that many people may have hypothyroidism but not even know it, because its symptoms can develop slowly and also resemble other conditions, such as menopause or depression. According to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada, about 2 in 100 Canadians have hypothyroidism^¹.

What are the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism?

There’s a wide variety of symptoms when it comes to hypothyroidism. People with an underactive thyroid may have a few of these symptoms, a lot of them or something in between^{²^,³^,⁴}:

Fatigue
Depression
Weight gain, or trouble losing weight
Frequently feeling cold
Hair that feels coarse and dry, and grows slowly
Hair loss
Dry skin that feels cool or rough to the touch; skin may itch, crack or become scaly
Sleep apnea (your breathing pauses and then starts again while you’re sleeping)
Infertility, both in men and women (trouble getting pregnant, or miscarriages)
Constipation
Muscle pain, stiffness, weakness or achiness
Brittle fingernails or nails that grow in flat, spoon-like shapes
Hoarse or shaky voice
Heavy menstrual periods for women, erectile dysfunction for men
Swelling in the face
Difficulty concentrating, memory problems
Slower heartbeat
Enlargement of the thyroid—your healthcare provider can confirm this upon examination

If you suspect that you may be affected by hypothyroidism, click through for a self-assessment and identify if you may need to speak with your doctor.

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed and treated?

Your doctor can order a blood test to check your TSH levels. In most cases of hypothyroidism, there are lower levels of thyroid hormones, and high levels of TSH^⁵. It’s recommended that you have your TSH levels checked starting at age 35, and every five years after that^⁵. Treatment of hypothyroidism is usually relatively simple: if your TSH levels are too low, your doctor generally prescribes a daily pill called levothyroxine—a synthetic form of thyroid hormone—to help get your levels back in balance. Your doctor will then monitor your TSH levels by ordering regular blood tests to check that the dose is correct and your hormone levels have returned to normal.

Who is at risk for hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is more common in people over 50, people who have recently given birth^⁶, and people in menopause^⁵—some symptoms may be attributed to a stage in life when they are really a sign of thyroid dysfunction. Some autoimmune diseases^⁷, like pernicious anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Type 1 diabetes, are also associated with a higher risk of hypothyroidism. Genetics can also play a role^⁷; having a parent or grandparent with hypothyroidism, or having a family history of those autoimmune diseases, can also boost your risk.

It can be easy to overlook thyroid symptoms, or mistake them for something else, but it’s important to get the right answers and the right treatment. Visit thyroidsymptoms.ca for a self-assessment on hypothyroidism, and to help prepare you for a chat with your healthcare provider.

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